Last November, Disney announced the return of Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the Toy Story gang in the June 2017 release of Toy Story 4. Along with the films announcement, Disney also announced that Disney and Pixar creative head, John Lasseter, would direct the film. In addition, it was rumored that the film would have a more-romantic edge to the story, unlike any of the previous Toy Story films. However, today, newly appointed Pixar President Jim Morris has a different scoop on Toy Story 4 that no one could have ever expected. Is Toy Story 4 even a sequel to the established trilogy? Find out after the break!

Reporting to a Disney Latino blog, Morris said this about the film: “It’s not a continuation of the end of the story of Toy Story 3. In temperament it is, but it will be a love story. It will be a romantic comedy. It will not put much focus on the interaction between the characters and children. I think it will be a very good movie.”

You may be just as surprised as many other Toy Story fans are right now. How could Toy Story 4 not be a sequel to Toy Story 3? Well, the answer lies in a bit of speculation, but it's the only thing we can feed off of at this point. My assumption after hearing this news s that the film that we call Toy Story 4 simply is under a working title. the June 2017 release of the next Toy Story film may include characters from the original trilogy, but most likely will feature an additional new cast of toys. Think of it as more of a spin-off than a sequel- merely set in the Toy Story world, but circulating around a completely new story and cast of characters.

As for whether this is the right step forward for the franchise, I say yes! Why? Because Pixar is self-aware enough to realize that they don't need to repeat themselves in order to make a fantastic film. And besides, who wants a strict sequel to one of the greatest trilogy endings of all time? Not me. So, I'm glad that Pixar is taking a gutsy move and changing up their future slate. It is exciting! Besides, if we can learn anything from Pixar's history it would be to expect the unexpected. The task may be challenging, but if any studio where to succeed it would be Pixar after all. Only time will tell, but for now, I say either climb aboard while the train is quickly moving or reserve your judgement for June 16th, 2017!

Update (3-10-15):New reports confirm that Josh Cooley, Story Supervisor for Inside Out, has been named co-director for Toy Story 4, working alongside Director John Lasseter! The full report from Variety below:

Cooley, who served as the head of story on Pixar’s “Inside Out,” the most eagerly anticipated animated film of 2015, was recently named John Lasseter’s co-director for “Toy Story 4,” the most eagerly anticipated animated film of 2017.Cooley, who just finished directing a short film set in the world of “Inside Out” that will be on the Blu-ray, began at Pixar as an intern in the story department on “Cars.” He was chosen for that spot by the late Joe Ranft, probably the finest animation storyman of his generation.“Joe singled out Josh Cooley as a guy with potential, and Joe knew how to pick ‘em,” says “Inside Out” director Pete Docter. “Josh is funny, unique and collaborative. And funny.”While working on “Inside Out,” Cooley tried to follow Ranft’s example. “On ‘Cars,’ Joe always said about the story, ‘It’s the journey, not just the destination.’ He brought the same attitude to running the department: It’s working together and collaborating with everybody that’s the real treat.”Turning to his new assignment, Cooley adds, “To be co-director on ‘Toy Story 4’ with John, who brought the ‘Toy Story’ characters to the screen 20 years ago, is a dream come true.“When I first saw ‘Toy Story’ I was amazed by the groundbreaking computer-generated animation. But it was the strong storytelling that kept me coming back. ‘Toy Story 4’ will continue that tradition and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it!”— Charles Solomon

Bringing new talent into a project like Toy Story 4 is very exciting and furthers my point about the new direction that Pixar is taking with the film. Also, the news about Josh Cooley directing an Inside Out short film that will be available with the blu-ray is very exciting because of the experience that directing a short like that could bring. In all, this news is very exciting and should put any Toy Story nay-sayers to rest!